Wednesday, Thursday, 12, 13th March

Wednesday: There was a large (100-ish) flock of Starlings on the Downland beside Saville Road, and the Jackdaw flock was on the grassland beside Circular Road. Not surprising in view of the wind coming up from Avonmouth, it would have been brave Jackdaw that tried to perch in the eponymous tree! I 'think' I could see two Peregrines hiding behind the branches of the oak.
Thursday: Calm, light winds, with high cloud. A Cormorant flew over Circular Road as I came up to Sea Walls, this time there was enough mud for a few Redshank. The tide was coming in; a man with a lurcher dog was examining a little red kayak that had come up river with the storm, I noticed it yesterday. In the oak two Peregrines sat, one a couple of metres above the other, the lower one with a grey back to me, the other with a white chest and black mask. The lower one turned around, and since she looked larger, this was the female. Courting time and Magpies, Jackdaws, Rooks and Crows appear in pairs.

Tuesday 11th March

The spring tide was so high that it nearly overflowed onto the cycle path, but at least this will clear some of the wood chippings! This was also a very wet morning for cycling. A large flock of Jackdaws was circling around the Jackdaw tree, as always they are in pairs, even in flight; a couple of dozen landing in the tree and surrounding bushes. They are very tame, taking little notice of me on a bicycle.

The white blob over in the oak looked a little unfamiliar, then it flew down to join its mate in one of the ivy covered trees - a Wood Pigeon not a Peregrine! I wondered what would have happened if one of the Peregrines had turned up and found a pigeon on its perch ...

Sunday 9th March

Both Ravens were visiting their nest, and the two Peregrines were perched over in the Oak tree, just a short distance apart. The Peregrines flew off over towards Bristol whilst I was watching, at around 9.50am. The tide was high (a spring tide), but just starting to recede, so no waders.
I have just read a fascinating article by Ed Drewitt and Nick Dixon (Diet and prey selection of urban-dwelling Peregrine Falcons in southwest England, E.J.Drewiit and N. Dixon, British Birds, February 2008, 101, 58-67) about the diet and prey of local and other SW Peregrines. An amazing variety of prey birds were identified over a period of nine years. Perhaps of greatest interest was the observation that the Peregrines are hunting at night, or at dusk and dawn. Despite seeing the Gorge Peregrines chasing the Abbots Leigh Wood Pigeons, and occasionally harrying the local Jackdaws, it looks as if these local birds (to the Peregrine cliff nest), are relatively safe!